Improvement in water-wheels



UNITED STATES EEICE,

PATENT JACOB STEAR, OF SMICKSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WH EELS.

To all whom t may concern.'

Beit known that I, JACOB STEAR, of Smicksburg, countyof Indiana, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Wheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is af ull and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in certain improvements inthe construction of water-wheels, as hereinafter fully described.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe ts construction and operation, referring by letter to the accompanying drawings,.

forming part of this specification, and in whichl Figure l represents aV top view of my improved wheel and its attendant parts of construction. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 representsa vertical section on the line wat, Fig. l. Fig. 4 represents ahorizontal section on the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a bottom view of the wheel, and Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of the wheel and portion of its shaft.

Similar letters denote the same parts in the different views.

A A A are three sides of a rectangular case or box which is furnished with a floor or bottom piece F.

Above the floor F is another floor C. This latter floor is just such a distance from the former as to admit the thickness of the cyl-` inder or riin c'. of the wheel, and is arranged parallel with the former. The open side of the case is closed up between these two ioors by a side piece C. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) That one of the sides A which is opposite to the open side of the case does not extend quite down to the floor F, but only so far as to all low a suitable opening, as seen at Fig. 3, to allow the free escape of the water from the wheel. L isthewheel, which runs horizontally between'the two floors F C. Said wheel is hung fast on the lower end of a vertical shaft II, which takes its lower bearing by a stud e resting in the step f(in the floor F) and its upper bearing in the cross-beam'B, through which its journal d passes, the latter extending upward to receive the stud, if deemed expedient. The shaft H is completely incased above the wheel by means ot' acylindrical tube I, which is secured in the floor-piece C and passes up tightly into the under surface of vcross-beam B.

D is a side piece which closes up the upper portion of the open side of the water-case, and E is a gate by which the balance of the open side may be shut tight when deemed necessary, said gate regulating the water admitted to the wheel.

The wheel in my improvement consists of a soliddisk L, (see Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6,) which is cut through near its perimeter in such a manner as to form a series of dished buckets L as illustrated in the drawings, which overlap each other on the under side of the wheel, and is arranged and secured in a surrounding rim or cylinder i, which is about double in thickness or face to the face of said disk. Said rim t' is so constructed as to have an annular flange around its upper edge. From the inner side of this flange extend downward (arranged around the interior of the rim t) a series of inclined ribs 7a, which are equal in width to and unite with the disks at the spaces h between the buckets L.

In the ioor C are formed the chutes G', which are constructed of metal of the form represented, and are arranged in the licor C, as illustrated in the drawings. These chutes are so constructed that the water will pass through them and exert its force first upon the inclined ribs k and then on the buckets L', as also its weight on the latter. The said chutes G', it will be seen, extend. downward some distance below the under side of the Hoor C.

The gate E slides between the side piece D and the ways b b.

The floor C is fast to the tube I and rests upon the partition C at one side and on the supporting-bar Z at the other side.

The chute-pieces G are represented as being secured to the floor C by bolts ct a; but they may be cast on a face-plate and the plate fastened to the floor, or may be constructed in any `other desirable manner.

The operation of my improvement will be understood from the following brief explanation, in connection with what has been said of its construction. The water is let onto the wheel by opening the gate E, and rushes down through the chutes Gf', exerting its prime force upon the inclined ribs k, and then 2 eager passing onto and through the buckets L, upon which it spends its force and Weight, escapes from the under side of the Wheel, and passes out through the open space between the floor F and one of the sides A, as seen at z z, Fig. 3.

It will be observed that With the peculiar construction of wheel, as described, consisting of the barrel or cylinder, disk-buckets L', and inclined ribs 7c, all the force and Weight of the water is economically rendered available.

It will be observed that by means of the tube I the shaft H is protected from the Water and the friction of the former turning in the latter is avoided.

It Will be understood that by simply removing the cross-beam B the tube I and vfloor C, (to Which it is attached,) With its chutes G', may be readily lifted from the case, after the and all inconvenience to the starting of thel wheel avoided.

I do not Wish to limit my invention to the exact detail of construction described of the wheel or other parts; but,

Having described my improvement, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'Ihe combination of the cylinder z', inclined ribs 7c, and disk L, With its buckets L', the whole constructed and operating essentially as hereinbefore described.

JACOB STEAR. [1.. s]

Vitnesses:

HENRY W. TURrnv, J. N. MCINTIRE. 

